Copyright © 2002 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

Cherokee Tae Kwon Do students in Korea. From left to right, Elijah Joice, Payle Grogen, Dylan Poe, Taylor Poe, Payton Walters, and Jeremiah Joice.

TAHLEQUAH, OK - A group of Cherokee Tae Know Do students from Tahlequah recently competed in the Tae Kwon Do World Festival in South Korea. Three of the team members, Paylee Grogen, 8 of Hulbert, Taylor Poe, 10, and Dylan Poe, 7, both of Moody, brought home bronze medals for their outstanding performance. This team was the first Native American team to represent the United States at the World Festival in Korea. The Tae Kwon Do students had to finish in first or second place at the National competition in Kansas City to qualify to compete at the World Festival in South Korea. Other Cherokee Tae Kwon Do students who competed in the World Festival were Payton Walters, 9 of Proctor, Elijah Joice, 16, and Jeremiah Joice, 17, both of Hulbert.

"It was a great experience for the adults and kids as well", said Allyson Walters, mother of Payton.

"We got to experience everything that the kids experienced." The kids held fundraisers and received a cash donation from the Cherokee Nation to finance their trip to Korea. Eighteen adult family members accompanied the six students on their trip. The qualifying National competition was held just six weeks before the World Festival, making it hard for the students to raise enough money for their trip.

"It happened so fast", said Wilson Vann, Tae Kwon Do instructor. "I didn’t expect to even go that far."

"We know what we have to do to win now", Vann said when asked how he felt about the trip. “Many of the other students who were there were brought up with Tae Kwon Do in the culture. We don’t do this full-time and other students do."

After the competition ended the students visited Seoul, South Korea, where they stayed in a hotel that offered both Korean style and American style amenities.

"We had a choice of sleeping on Korean style cots on the floor or in regular beds", Walters said.

The group also visited museums, monuments, and a replica of an ancient Korean village.

"I think the best part was that I made e-mail pals with other college students in Korea who helped with the tournament", E. Joice said.